Did Obama try and make a deal with repubs? As in give repubs some bones in return for some sequester budget changes? No? He said no deal, no deals, no dealio and played hardball. Once he did that the result he got was the best he could have hoped for.

he tried but at every turn rethugs refused forcing a shutdown at which point Obama and dems had no choice but to hold firm and not negotiate. you don't negotiate anything when extortion is the tactic being used. if Obama would've caved it would've hurt his and every future presidency rethug or dem.